DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
A briefing on the status of the “ABC” Restaurant Grade Placard system
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) will provide a presentation, briefing the Community Health and Equity Committee on the status of the “ABC” Restaurant Grade Placard system.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In March 2016, City Council approved an Ordinance authorizing the adoption of new Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) published by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in October 2015. Approval of the Ordinance allowed Metro Health to change the scoring of routine restaurant inspections to a 0 to 100-point scale. Prior to the 0 to 100-point scoring system, restaurants were scored based on demerits. On the demerit system, earning 0, or receiving 0 demerits, was a perfect score, and the higher scores were associated with poor restaurant sanitation. The demerit system was confusing to the public, who are more familiar with a traditional grading system with 100 representing a perfect score.
In June 2016, Metro Health also began a voluntary ABC restaurant grade placard program. A letter grade placard is offered by Metro Health to each food service establishment at the conclusion of the routine food safety inspection. The letter on the placard issued to a restaurant is associated with the score earned on the most recent Routine Food Safety Inspection Report. Placards are given to every establishment; however, the posting of the placard for public viewing is voluntary and up to the establishment’s discretion.
• Restaurants receive Grade Placards according to the overall score of the routine inspection.
o 90 to 100 = A
o 80 to 89 = B
o Below 80 = C
• In FY 2018, Metro Health licensed Sanitarians conducted 21,089 restaurant inspections. 15,783 were routine annual food safety inspections.
• 90% of restaurants scored an A grade on their routine inspection. Only 1% scored a C grade on their inspection.
• Approximately 60% of the A placards are currently being posted, and almost none of the C placards are ever posted under the voluntary system.
ISSUE:
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District would like the opportunity to brief the Community Health and Equity Committee on the Pilot Restaurant Grade Placard system.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is currently for briefing purposes only.